Beverage maker



May 28, 1957 w. A. ANDRES EI'AL 2,794,106

BEVERAGE MAKER Original Filed April 5, 1948 FIG. I

I, 71 g. as 73 e5 66 67 74 i 36 f 4152 \56 a: 7 2

INVENTORS- William A. Andres Clement Wood Clemons Clemen': E. Treflel7/%Z.. C. @M ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice E. Trettel,Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to General Mills, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Original application April 5, 1948, Serial No. 18,874,

now Patent No. 2,682,601, dated June 29, 1954. Divided and thisapplication June 12, 1953, Serial No. 361,449

3 Claims. (Cl. 219- 13) This application is a division of our priorco-pending application, Serial No. 18,874, filed April 5, 1948, nowPatent No. 2,682,601.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved beverage maker ofthis general type.

Another object is the provision of an improved heating unit for such abeverage maker.

A further object is the provision of a heating unit for such a beveragemaker, in which the heating unit has an improved handle and cordassembly.

Another object is to provide a heating unit which may be used withreceptacles of different sizes.

Still another object is the provision of an improved handle assemblywhich shall include latching means for an upper liquid reservoir.

Another object is the provision of an improved method of attachment ofan infusion basket to the heating unit.

A further object is to provide an improved metering orifice for thebottom of the upper liquid reservoir.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cofleemaker embodying features of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the bottom of the liquidreservoir.

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the interior of the heaterhousing showing details of the cord connection, and

Fig. 4 is a partial bottom view of the heater housing.

As shown in Fig. l, the coffee'maker, according to the present inventioninvolves a bottom receptacle 11 (which may be either a regular coffeepot or cup or similar receptacle), an intermediate heater housing 12,and an upper bowl or liquid reservoir 13. A basket 20 for the infusionmaterial is attached below the heater housing in a manner to bedescribed. Thus, the liquid from the upper reservoir will flowdownwardly under the action of gravity through the heater where it willbe brought to the required temperature. The heated liquid will then passthrough the infusion basket and down into the lower receptacle.

Receptacle 11 may be provided with a suitable pouring spout 14 and ahandle (not shown) of any desired construction. The lower receptacleshown in the drawings is made of metal although it will be apparent thata ceramic or glass pot could also be employed. The upper edge of the pot11 is rolled over to provide a bead or seat 40 on which the heaterhousing is adapted to be supported.

The heater housing, designated generally as 12, includes a substantiallycylindrical vertical side wall portion 15 and a horizontal bottomportion 16. Thus, the heater housing is' substantially cup shaped. Theflat bottom portion 16 is adapted to rest on the rim of pot 11 and besupported by the seat 40. The rim of the infusion basket 20 which isfastened to the bottom of this heating 2,794,106 Patented May 28, 1957unit may serve as a centering means to prevent excessive lateralmovement of the unit on top of the pot 11.

To permit use of the unit with pots which have a larger top opening thanthat of pot 11, an additional downwardly facing seat has been providedon housing wall 15. In the form shown, the lower portion of wall isrecessed or reduced in diameter to provide an annular step or shoulder50. This step will engage the rim of a pot of corresponding size, whilethe lower recessed housing portion adjacent and below the step serves tocenter the unit in the pot opening. Thus the housing constructionprovides two effective steps or seats for selective engagement withreceptacles which have top openings of different sizes.

The central portion of bottom 16 projects downwardly, as shown at 17,this downward projection 17 being curved smoothly inward as shown at 18.Spaced projections 19, best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, are provided on thedownward projecting portion 17 for the purpose of supporting the coffeebasket thereon. This coffee basket 20 may be of any desired shape. Inthe form shown, it has an upper enlarged cylindrical section 21 whichterminates in an upper bead 22. The inside radius of this upper portion21 is slightly greater than the outside radius of the depending centralportion 17 of the heater housing. However, the projections 19 on theportion 17 extend outwardly to give an efiective radius for theseprojections slightly greater than the inside radius of the coffee basketportion 21. Thus, as the coffee basket is placed against the bottom ofthe heater housing the upper portion of this basket will be deformedslightly as shown in Fig. 4 so that there is slightly more space as at24 between the inside of the basket and the outside of the portion 17immediately adjacent projections 19 than the space 25 between theseparts at points intermediate the projections 19. In other words, the topof the coffee basket is resiliently deformed to somewhat non-circularconfiguration and this resilient deformation causes the basket to gripprojections 19 firmly and thus maintains the coffee basket and contentsin place through the increased friction and clamping action between theparts.

The construction of the coffee basket 20, as indicated above, may be ofany orthodox type and as is customary, this basket is provided withbottom perforations 26 and with one or more rows of top perforations 27and 28 to take care of possible overflow of the infusing liquid from thebasket.

With reference to the heater housing again, the depending centralportion 17 has a small annular shoulder 29 shown in Fig. l. The portionof the bottom inside this annular shoulder 29 is recessed upwardly asshown at 30 to provide a flat central area 31 positioned somewhat abovethe extreme bottom point 29 of depending portion 17. Spaced peripheralshoulders 32 and a central shoulder 33 are located in said centralrecess 31 to serve as positioning means for a removable plate 34. Thisplate is held against the shoulder portion by a removable nut 35 whichengages a threaded member 36 projecting downwardly from the center ofthe heater housing. Thus it will be apparent that plate 34 is readilydetachable from the bottom of the heater housing merely by removal ofnut 35. This removability is of interest and importance in facilitatingthe cleaning and removal of scale and other deposits from the heaterhousing.

The central portion of the heater housing includes an upwardly extendingcylindrical wall or cup 37 which forms a central recess into whichliquid from the upper reservoir may flow. Perforations or passages 38permit the liquid to flow from the inside of this central recessedportion 37 down to the space 39 between the plate 34 and the bottomcentral portion 31 of the heater housing 12. These perforations 38 arelocated near the center temperature for the infusion operation. liquidthen drops from the rim of plate 34 into the inof the heater housing andplate 34 so that the liquid which reaches space -39-thenflowsoutwardlythrough the space 39 to the outer rim 41 of plate 34. This outer rim 41is spaced slightly as shown at 42 from the upwardly curved edge 30 ofthe central bottom'recess in the heater housing.

As clearly shown in the drawing, a heating element '43 is mounted inclose heat-conducting relation to the depending central portion 17 ofthe heater housing. In the embodiment shown in the drawing thiselectrical "heating element 43 is cast into the housing 12 duringelement is also conducted throughoutthe central bottom portion 31 of thehousing. Also, by reason of the contact of the plate 34 throughperipheral and central shoulders32 and 33, a portion of the heat fromthe element is conducted to plate 34. 'Thus, as the liquid flows throughthe spaces 39 and 42, it is heated to the desired The heated fusionmaterial which is contained in the coffee basket 20, and the infusedproduct finally passes downwardly through perforations 26 into thebottom receptacle 11.

The heating element 43 is provided with terminals 44 and 45. One ofthese terminals 44 is connected directly to one of the conductors 46 ofa suitable connecting cord 47. The other terminal 45 is preferablyconnected by a wire 48 to one terminal of a suitable thermostatic switch49. This thermostatic switch is mounted on the central recessed bottomportion 31 in close heat-conducting relation with said portion. Theother terminal of this thermostatic switch 49 is connected to the otherconductor 51 of the connecting cord 47. The thermostatic switch 49 isdesigned to remain closed during normal operation of the unit as long asliquid is flowing from the upper reservoir through the spaces 39 and 42.As this liquid is raised in temperature, it uses up most of the heatsupplied by the element 43 and thus the thermostat switch remains inclosed position. As soon as the reservoir runs dry, the absence ofliquid permits the heat from element 43 to raise the temperature ofcentral bottom portion 31 to a sufficient degree to open thethermostatic switch 49 and break the circuit to the heating element.Such safety thermostats are well known and their construction need notbe described in detail.

An improved arrangement for connection of the cord 47 to the heaterhousing has been provided. In this arrangement, the side wall of thehousing 12 is provided with an opening 52. A handle 53 of plastic orother suitable material is provided with a projection 54 adapted to fitwithin the opening 52. The portion of the handle adjacent this reducedcircular projection 54 serves as a shoulder 55 to assist in positioningthe handle against the side wall of the housing.

A longitudinal passageway 56 extends throughout the length of the handle53 and projection 54 and serves as an entrance housing for the cord 47.The cord extends through this passageway from the outer end of thehandle to the inside of the housing. A cord clamp or strain reliefdevice 57 is fastened to the cord inside the housing and this clamp 57in turn has a fiat surface 58 positioned against the inner side of wall15. A bolt or screw 59 passes through this flat portion 58 of the clamp57, through the side wall 15, and into the body portion of handle 53.Thus, this single threaded member serves to 7 hold the cord clamp inplace on the inside of the side wall and also serves to clamp the handleagainst the outside of the wall. One or more additional screws 61 may beprovided to strengthen the handle mounting, 1f desired.

The heater housing 12 is also provided with positiomng means forsupporting the upper reservoir or bowl 13.

.position on top of housing 12.

displacement of the bowl.

vided.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper portion of the side wall 15isprovided'with an internal-ledge-or-projectien 62. This ledge issomewhat higher than the top of the central hub or cup 37. A slightlydish-shaped or conical plate member 63 is supported on the top of theshoulder 62 and cup 37. The inner portion of plate 63 may be flangeddownwardly at 64 inside the wall of the central hub 37. The outer rim 65of plate 63 rests on the ledge 62 as shown. Plate 63 may be held inplace by suitable screws (not shown) and, if desired, a liquid-tightgasket may be utilized to seal the joints between the edges of plate 63and the side wall 15 or .hub 37 of the housing.

The upper liquid reservoir 13 has a conical ordished bottom portion 66shaped to correspond to the slope of plate 63. At the outer periphery ofthis bottom portion 66, the reservoir has a. projecting annular shoulder67, the outer diameter of which is just slightly less than the insidediameter of theside wall 15 above plate 63. .Thus, the annular-shoulder"67 serves fas 'aw positioning means to-locate'the reservoir-13laterally within the'hou'sing 12. An annular groove 68 in the wall ofbowl 1-3 just above the annular projection 67 provides space-'forsuitable retaining members adapted to hold the bowl in One of theseretaining members may be in' the form of a fixed projection or rivet 69at a point substantially opposite the location of handle 53. Theotherpart-of the retaining mechanism is' shown injthe :form of a ball 71,which projects partially through an opening '72 in the side wall 15 ofthe heater housing just above the axis of handle 53. A recess 73 in theenlarged upper portion '74 of handle 53 serves as a housing for the ball71 and -with'bowl 13 at a slight angle. *The bowl is then lowered to ahorizontal position and in the course of this move- "ment the portion ofannularprojecti'on 67 adjacent the handle forces the ball 71' back intoits housing against the action of spring 75 and then permits the ball tosnap into place above the projection in the annular recess 68 tolatchtheupper bowl in place and prevent accidental The central bottom portionof bowl 13 extends downwardly as sl10W11:at76 to project into thecentral hub or "cup, 37 ofthe heater housing. As shown in Fig. 2

the.downward'projectionor well 76 has a small central area which isdeformed upwardly at 77-. 1 In'the uppermost portion of this area 77 ametering orifice 79 is pro- Th'us orifice 79 islocated in a small recessabove the lowest portion of the upper bowl. This construction isadvantageous because it prevents damage to the edges of the orifice 79in the event the bowl is dropped carelessly on a table or'other hardsurface. In such a case, in previous forms of construction, wherein theliquid orifice has been at the lowest point of the reservoir, the

walls of the opening themselves may be deformed and thus the effectivesize of the opening may be changed. In-the present case, however, anycontact of the bowl against a table or similar surface will be borne bythe lowest portion 78 of the well 76 andalthough this portion may beslightly deformed, the edges of the opening 79 will be protected.

The size of opening'79 is selected so as to obtain the desired rate offlow of the liquid contents from the upper reservoir to the heater unit.This'time of flow will be coordinated with the amount of heatproduced'by the heating element 43 so that the liquid which flowsdownwardly, under the influence of gravity, through the spaces 39 and 42will justhave timeto reach the desired temperaturebefore it drops intothe coftee basket. Sin'ce'tl e size of the opening must be kept withinnarrow predetermined limits in any given assembly, it is important toprotect the opening against accidental deformation as described above.

As shown in Fig. 1, an additional feature of the inven tion will bedescribed. This feature involves the provision of a projection or rim 23extending inwardly from the neck of the pot 11. This inwardly projectingportion 23 has an internal diameter which is somewhat less than thegreatest diameter of the bead 22 on coifee basket 20. Thus a positivesafety means is provided which prevents the cofiee basket from droppinginto the liquid in the bottom receptacle 11 in case the device issubjected to unexpected jars which might be sufficient to overcome thefrictional and resilient clamping forces normally holding the coffeebasket against the depending central portion 17 of housing 12.

The operation of this device will be readily apparent from the foregoingdescription. The desired amount of coiiee or other infusion material isplaced in the basket 20 after which this basket is frictionally engagedagainst the bottom of heater housing 12. The desired amount of liquid isplaced in the upper bowl 113 and this bowl is positioned on top of theheater housing 12. Housing 12 in turn is placed on top of bottomreceptacle 11. Cord 47 is connected to a suitable source of current andwill thus energize the heating element 43 to heat the liquid, in themanner described, as it passes from the upper bowl to the infusionbasket. The heated liquid will pass through the infusion material andthe desired product will flow into the bottom receptacle. After all theliquid has passed out of the heater housing, the temperature of thehousing will increase and thermostatic switch 49 will be opened to stopthe operation of heating element 43. The user may then lift the heaterhousing, upper bowl and coifee basket as a unit by means of handle 53and may remove these elements from the bottom receptacle 11. The bottomreceptacle then serves as a dispensing means for the beverage which hasbeen prepared.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that an improvedcotfeemaker of the type described has been provided, which accomplishesthe objects set forth in the early portions of this specification. Sinceminor variations and changes in the exact details of construction willbe apparent to persons skilled in this field, it is intended that thisinvention shall cover all such changes 6 and modifications as fallwithin the spirit and scope of the attached claims.

Now, therefore, we claim: 1. A beverage making unit for insertion in areceptacle having a top opening, said unit comprising a heater housingand a liquid reservoir above said housing, said housing having a bottomwall provided with a central portion,

an annular outer portion and a relatively thin annular portionintermediate said inner and outer portions, an electrical heatingelement in close thermal engagement with only the outer portion of saidbottom wall for heating said outer portion, said relatively thinintermediate portion concentrating heat from said heating element in thevicinity of said outer portion and said inner central portion receivinga lesser amount of heat by conduction from said outer portion via saidintermediate portion than is received by said outer portion, a plateremovably attached to said housing and spaced downwardly from saidintermediate portion, and means for feeding liquid from said reservoirto the central area of the plate for heating the liquid progressively asit fiows between the plate and said bottom wall from the central portionto the outer portion, said liquid receiving a greater amount of heat asit reaches said outer portion owing to the concentration of heat in thevicinity of said outer portion.

2. A beverage making unit in accordance with claim 1 in which said plateis removably attached to said central portion by a threaded member.

3. A beverage making unit in accordance with claim 2 in which said plateis provided with outer projections bearing against the underside of saidouter portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS228,632 Hathaway June 8, 1880 1,761,633 Krause June 3, 1930 1,780,751Houck Nov. 4, 1930 1,838,206 Alaj Dec. 29, 1931 1,887,354 Kapner Nov. 8,1932 2,152,122 Wilcox Mar. 28, 1939 2,192,095 Myers Feb. 27, 19402,272,471 Miller Feb. 10, 1942 2,290,660 Wilcox July 21, 1942 2,626,342Miller Jan. 20, 1953

